Skate



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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

D. H. SHIRLEY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SKATE.

Specicaton of Letters Patent No. 23,615, dated April 12, 1859.

To all 'whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, D. H. SHIRLEY, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Skates, and that the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings hereinafter referred to, forms a full and exact specification of the same, wherein I have set forth the nature and principles of my improvements by which my invention may be distinguished from all others of a similar class, together with such parts as I claim and desire 4to have secured to me by Letters Patent.

The figures of the accompanying plate of drawings, represent my improvements.

Figure 1 is a plan or top view of my improved skate. IIig. 2 is a side elevation of skate with boot attached. Fig. 3 is a central, longitudinal vertical section of the skate with boot attached.

My improvement consists in a new mode of fastening a skate to the boot or shoe, whereby the skate is rigidly held in its place by means of a longitudinal binding force (that is in the direction of its length), exerted upon the boot or slice, and in such a manner to avoid any wrenching of the sole. This result is effected by means of a movable clamp at the heel, which can be moved forward and back and held at any desired point, so as to be engaged with or disengaged from the heel of the boot or shoe, a toe piece being attached to the skate which forms a bearing for the boot to press against and which prevents the skate from dropping at the toe.

a a in the drawings represent the runner or blade of the skate.

l) b is the stock on which the foot rests.

c is the heel of the boot having attached to it a metallic plate e, between which and the bottom of the heel, cut away a little for the purpose, fits the shoulder or lip f of a sliding heel piece g, which can be moved forward and back upon the shank L of a` screw z', so as to be engaged with or disengaged from the heel of the boot-, the screw z', the female thread of which is in the piece '7.3, serving to press the sliding piece g forward by means of a shoulder at le and hold it atany desired point; a toe piece Z which slightly overlaps the toe of the boot or shoe being used for the foot to press against and to prevent the skate from dropping at that point. By this arrangement after the sliding piece g is set up and held by the screw z', every weight, strain or pressure upon the skate, brings a corresponding longitudinal binding force upon the boot or shoe as every weight, strain or pressure tends to extend the foot lengthwise.

It will be evident that a toe-piece may be so constructed as to be made adjustable for different thicknesses and widths of soles.

Having thus described my improvements I shall state my claim as follows:

That I claim as my invention and desire to have secured to me by Lett-ers Patent is- A sliding heel piece or clamp susceptible of being moved forward and back and fas tened at any desired point in such a manner that, the toe of the boot or shoe being held by a suitable toe-piece, a longitudinal binding force can be brought to bear upon, or relieved from the foot, as set forth.

D. H. SHIRLEY.

llVitnesses Ro'r. L. HARRIS, JULiUs SHUNKE. 

